homemade rockets at the helicopters. The encampment was completely surrounded, and the Thai government gave Red Shirts a deadline of 3:00 PM local time to withdraw. Clashes continued, with Thai troops firing directly towards or at any movement around the protest perimeter with live ammunition, and protesters also using potentially lethal tactics, according to a Canadian journalist. Red Shirts shot fireworks at the Army, and utilized a broom handle to rapidly fire firecrackers. At least two Red Shirt protesters were shot by Thai Army snipers. According to Thai medical officials, the casualty toll stood at 35 dead, and 242 wounded. By the end of the day, the casualty toll had risen to 37 dead and 266 wounded. Sporadic clashes continued on 18 May, but these skirmishes were less intense than some previous confrontations had been. The death toll rose to 39 as the day progressed, and it was widely believed that a military crackdown was imminent as troops and APC's gathered around the protest site urging residents and protestors to leave, declaring that a military operation was soon to commence. The Army moved in soon afterward, backed by armoured personnel carriers (APC) and smashed through the protestors main barricades. Two Red Shirts were shot and wounded during the opening stages of this operation as other Red Shirts set alight the kerosene soaked barricades to deter advancing soldiers and obscure their view. 19 May assault On 19 May, the army launched an all-out assault using APCs and breached Red Shirt barricades, leaving at least five dead along Ratchadamri Road leading up to Ratchaprasong, including Italian freelance photojournalist Fabio Polenghi. Two soldiers were seriously wounded in a grenade attack, possibly from an M79. The protest leaders surrendered to police in an attempt to avoid further bloodshed. After the leaders declared the protests over, a number of protesters moved along Rama I Road to take shelter in Wat Pathum Wanaram, a Buddhist temple which had been used as a "safe zone" and contained first aid tents. Troops shot into the temple, killing six, which included volunteer medical personnel. Fighting between Red Shirt protesters and the army continued in many parts of the city. Red Shirts also gathered in front of provincial halls in other provinces in response to the news of the crackdowns in Bangkok and were met by military personnel. Various provinces saw standoffs, which led to three protester deaths in two